Why Can't All Miles Be Redeemed For Premium Economy?

I would think this could be a "careful what you wish for" situation. If one of the big 3 US carriers were to add Premium Economy to their award charts, I could easily see them doing it in the context of making PE 2x the economy miles price and moving Business up to 3x (whereas it's usually now around 2x). Especially for better programs like Aeroplan there just isn't that much room in between the economy and business class award prices.

FYI, from what I have been able to gather, Unites does let you do an award booking on SAS for PE. It comes up under mixed class and it 30,000 Saver one way.

"For example, Delta SkyMiles can’t be redeemed for travel in international first class, and the argument has long been that it’s because they don’t themselves offer an international first class cabin."

Interesting, because I can redeem my SAS Eurobonus points for first class, even though SAS themselves don't offer that cabin of service.

At the same time, it's also worth noting that SAS has blocked Eurobonus award redemption for their OWN premium economy on their long haul flights (known as SAS Plus)

I ran into the same issue. AA doesn't let you buy up to 'Main Cabin Extra' when on a SAAver Award ticket ( https://twitter.com/AmericanAir/status/451901054477926400). However, United does let you buy their Economy Plus product when on a United Saver flight ( https://twitter.com/turnbullben/status/451901675218157569).

At this point, you have to ask yourself, why doesn't AA want to take your money?

I've always been a something of a scrooge when it comes to miles/points. My wife calls me a "serial saver" because I love the game of getting and then rarely spend them (eg, I have just under 1 million IHG hotel points). So, in the parlance of "the grand game", I LOVE to earn and HATE to burn. That same behavior carries over to my money as well. Thus, I always fly coach (domestically and internationally) because it's the cheapest, and I can't comfortably stay in high end aspirational hotels because I know it's more than I need - and only do so as a treat for my dear wife when she's traveling with me.

But as I have gotten older/greyer and grown "more rotund", I find coach is increasingly more of a comfort struggle - particular for international hops. I still don't think I'll ever have any need other than ego to fly first, but business is looking increasingly attractive, and the advent of premium economy is looking nice as well. So, when I was looking at the Quantas redemption chart and noted the redemption cost differential between economy and premium economy was only 10K round trip - yeah, I would spring for that.

So, long story short, I don't think I'd likely redeem for premium economy for domestic, but it will definitely be in the mix for international trips that I can bring myself to redeem for - especially transatlantic hops.

I am debating whether to book premium economy from Sydney to LAX on Qantas or wait for availability for business. What do you recommend? Is premium econ worth it?

This is a sore spot for me right now. Flying to NZ in the next month on Virgin Australia using Skymiles. Flying the LAX-BNE and BNE-LAX segments in business. The BNE-WLG and CHC-BNE segments have to be in economy because Virgin Australia only offers economy and premium economy on their Trans-Tasman flights right now. Premium economy looks similar to intra-Europe business with 2x2 with a blocked middle seat instead of 3x3. But of course Delta can't book the P fare.

One of the issues regarding Premium Economy redemptions that many carriers are struggling with is the lack, to date, of a dedicated redemption booking class for such inventory to be distributed in.

For example, in Star Alliance the standard classes are X, I and O for redemption. Inventory made available by carrier A in these classes can be accessed by carrier B of the same alliance and priced as per the mileage grids. However, there is no such standard (yet) for Premium Economy.

With more and more carriers introducing such a fourth cabin, I'm sure this is a topic of discussion amongst carriers.

@ Bgriff -- I mean I guess they *could*, but that's certainly not the precedent which has been set in the industry. BA charges 1.5x as much for premium economy as economy, and 2x as much for business as economy. So the airlines could also devalue further without adding a premium economy redemption option; I don't think the two would be related.

@ Maury -- Worth it compared to what? If you need to travel and that's the only option then yes. Which miles are you looking at using?

I have only flown econ and business class before and never premium econ. I am using Alaska miles and I cannot find availability for Feb from SYD to the US in business. The only other alternative is premium economy. Thank you

If you book an "anytime econ" award with AA on their metal, you can choose to sit in MCE if it's available on your flight(s). I was surprised to find this out earlier this year when I booked 3 tickets from ATL to LHR on AA metal for 45k each, one-way. Later I was able to find 3 tickets in biz on another AA flight(s) for only 5k more per ticket so I figured it was worth it to switch.

@ Maury - I have flown Premium Economy on Qantas many times on these routes (LAX-SYD, JFK-SYD), and the answer to your questions is yes, it is unambiguously worth it over Economy. I have also flown Business, which affords you the flat seat which is, of course, even better.

But Premium Economy on QF is not dissimilar in space to US domestic flying in First. You will be happy that you did it.

Is it possible to book Air New Zealand PE award tkts using United miles? My experience is that PE on Air NZ btwn LAX and AKL on the 777-300 is as good as B class (and better when you're a couple as you get to sit together) and wanted to use miles for the next trip home....

@ Susan -- No it's not.

Be careful what you wish for.

You don't want US carriers to start with this whole Premium Economy business and then realise an upgrade from Economy is no longer to Business but to Premium Economy!!!!

Imagine an SWU for an upgrade from Economy to Premium Economy! That would be scandalous!

I'm not suggesting allowing mileage redemption on partner carrier's Premium Economy will lead to US carriers offering Premium Economy cabins. But it is one step away, once they start rationalising their product offerings.

Let's keep 3 distinct classes and be very glad an upgrade from Economy is truly an upgrade!